Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-06

I tuUaI In t1p DStrfCt
After referring 10 the other restrictions placed
| by Congress upon the expenditures for street
pavements the report says: Proposals were advrr-
tfsed for in April last but no bid was received for
asphalt pavements. II is to be regretted that the
law should virtually profit the laying of the sheet
apht which have given 50 great
| In view OF the position taken by Congress which
may perhaps be maint ained in future apppropria-
tiOn acts special attention has been given to the
other classes OF smooth pavements These are
| principally: l. Coal-tar dstilate and asphalt ,.
Asphalt block 3. Wood. 4. Brick
Capt. Griffin discusses at considerable length
the comparative defect, and merits OF different
pavements. He concludes that dlstillate pave
ments constructed OF carefully selected and COM
bined material and properly laid Will cost no more
than the asphalt for maintenance.
The defects OF weather cracks and wave surfaces
In asphalt pavements could probably be remedied
to a certain extent by reducing the thickness or
the wearing surface to inches or even g.
between the surface and the base The latter
could then be reduced to inches or less.
At present prices the cost OF such pavement
would be per square yard:
o-lnch hydraulic base. .................,$O 694
2-inch binder az when compacted) .:8f4
2-inch wearing surface (compacted). ~ 1.176
5000
These items are based on the current prices for
repairs to concrete pavementS. The pavement
could be laid In quantity at less price than the
standard asphalt. 1t IS of the same thickness, 81
inches. Asphalt blocks do not make a suitable
pavement for narrow, well-traveled streets, for
the general surface of streets containing railway
tracks or for streets OF heavy traffic. Whenever
laid on such streets they have heretofore failed to
show the requisite endurance. They are only
recommended for residence streets and streets
and alleys of light traffic. In such locations
they make an excellent pavement; smooth dura-
BILE, noiseess, clean, healthy, and pleasing in APP
pearance.
The cedar block pavements used so extensively
throughout the northwest are cheap 81 tOSl.:'O
per square Yard, but deteriorate rapidly are
jtctlOnabe on sanitary grounds, and are anything
but smooth after brief wear. CreOSoted wooden
blocks on a hydraulic cement foundation, when
newly laid, approach nearer the ideal block pave
ment than any other form.
The record of brick pavementS Is an irregular
one A bid was submitted in April last for laying
| brick payments at sl.S7 per square yard, IL cents
ing OF IL cents per yard was not deemed Il sufi-
Gent inducement to warrant the contracting for
such pavements in the absence Of any test Of their
durability on the streets Of this city.
SIDEWALKS
During the year, in connection with street pave
ments 1850 square yards OF sidewalks were laid
and other walks were laid out OF the appropriation
for current repairs, the aggregate for the year
being S6,9:}9 square yards, as follows: Asphalt
tile, 7O64; asphalt block, 1866; mastic 3,o56, and
"No improvements, the report says, adds
regulated city than good sidewalks. While
brick sidewalks are to be commended for
their cheapness. they deficient in nearly every
other quality. The numerous joints being far from
water tight, admit and hold the surface DRAWINGS
and the small bearing surface and water-soaked
Il
surface under trrffic. Bricks are not hOmogene-
Gus in structure, and wear unevenly. They alb
is more uncomfortable than a worn brick pave
ment, many examples OF which are to be found in
this city.
There are two general classes of improved foot
walks, viz: block pavementS and sheet pavement>
The former have the general advantages that they
can be laid without any special plant, and that
the material can be removed and relaid whenever
1t is necessary to cut trenches for water pipes,
sewers, gas pipes, DC. The sheet pavements have
the general advantages that they are more imper-
vious TO water, more homogeneous in structure,
and smoother to the foot, and, as rule, wear
more evenly.
Bids were received this year for sheet asphalt
Sidewalks at sI.47 per square yard, but as the
estimates had been prepared on the basis OF brick
walks 1t will be necessary to lay brick. 1.-THE
c0al-tar walks in this city, the report says, care
unnJigated nuisances though much better walks
composed OF this material could probably be laid
given to the roadway pavements in The past eight
or ten years than to the sidewalks. Many of the
large cities in this country have discarded brick
paving material long ago, and think the pOpu
lar verdict here is that the brick sidewalks should
go. The only question Is what material shall be
substituted for brick? The greatest enemy TO our
walks is the tree root, and the great number OF,
and small intervals between trees make this evil
Of serious moement Walks must, however, be
laid subject to this condition which would tend to
exclude sheet payements until after the trees had
attained a good growth saw in ST. Paul last
winter artificial stone sidewalks made of
heXagOnal blocks laid on a concrete base. The
blocks were inches thick and Is inches across
the heXagOn, made of Portland cement and sand,
and moulded by machinery under pressure. For
One-third Of the thickness the cement and sand
are mixed in the proportions OF TO 3 or s. the re
naming two-thirds, constituting the top OF the
block, being mixed to /. These walks are eX-
ceedingly durable, very handsome, and are laid at
a cost OF Is cents per square foot or S1.62 per
square yard. If blocks OF equal durability and
cost be manufactured in this city would
recommend that this be tried the best pave
ment for Washington OF which have any knowl-
edge"
out Of the appropriations for street improve
mentS i2,297.42 feet Of curb we're set, including
300 feet OF Old curb reset or set in new position
and out OF the appropriation for current repairs
and materials for permit work 9,49O feet OF blue
stone and 921 feet OF granite curb was set. Two
experiments in the way OF curb are being made
this summer One is a combination curb and gut
ter, of concrete with granolithic facing,
ground wires; the other a granite euro
cut inches square and laid in concrete
bed. A serious objection to the ordinary 5X2O or
6x2O curb is that, being placed upright, it has a
tendency to settle unequally. either downward
or TO or from the roadway. With both the grano-
lthic and special granite curbs this fault is OBJ
Waited by laying the curb in a concrete cradle
which virtually brOadens the base to such an ex-
tent as to prevent any settling from ordinary
causes.
For details OF the expenditure of the approprla-
ton OF $4,000 for current repairs to streets,
avenues and alleys, Capt. Griffin refers to the re-
port Of the superintendent OF streets.
The appropriation for current repairs to streets
avenues and alleys In 1880 was SO, 800; In 1881.
$50. OOO in 1882 30, 600; in 1883, $780, 600 Since
1855 the annual appropriation has been s25. 900.
For the last four years 1t has averaged SD 600
For the preceding four years 1t averaged Sl3S7
or more than twice as much. In the meantime
the city has grown apace, the popuation
has increased from Ia, o!s5 in 1880 to 210,OOO in
1887, and the expenses have increased accord
ingly. II 800 was needed in 1880 SO, 900 vii,
hardly suffice in 1887. For the present year usS1
the appropriation has been increased to $40 600
II could with great advantage be Increased to
So 900 in 1859 II the District revenues Will per
init.
PERMIT WORK.
In reference to permit work done under the ap-
preparation OF $50 900, Capt. Griffin refers also to
superintendent Burroughs report for details
All work is done in accordance with rigid specif1
cation, and a wholesome rivalry exists between
the rOreInen as to which can do the work the
cheapest. AS the property-ow ner pays the cost of
labor this Is most excellent condition OF affair,
for the property Owners. Much credit is due the
superintendent OF streets and his fOrenen for the
manner in which this work Is executed. There is
no legal definition or the term ''pernit work. In
the absence OF any authoritative decision this ap
preparation has been held TO be applicable TO any
owner BY the terms OF the act this APPROXIMATION
can be used for the improvement and repairs OF
alleys and sidewalks, the cost of labor to be
assessed against the abuttlng property o wners
when, in the judgment OF observation-disclosures such
course is necessary for the public safety health or
comfort.
The appropriation for 1Ss7-'ss, amounting to